Aston Villa ruled out of move for Rio Ferdinand

Aston Villa made a tentative enquiry about signing former England defender Rio Ferdinand on a free transfer before snapping up Philippe Senderos instead.

Ferdinand is available this summer after Manchester United decided against offering the 35-year-old centre-half a new contract when his last deal expired.

Villa are understood to have spoken briefly to Ferdinand’s representatives at the end of the season to establish the former West Ham and Leeds’ favourite’s future plans.

But their interest did not get any further than an initial enquiry about a potential season-long deal for the player, whose personal terms and preference to play elsewhere appear to have ruled out any move.

Ferdinand’s £100,000-plus per-week wages are beyond Villa’s means, especially at a time when chairman Randy Lerner is reluctant to invest heavily after putting the club up for sale.

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp is interested in a reunion with a player he mentored at West Ham and Ferdinand would favour a return to London rather than moving to Birmingham.

There are also several Major League Soccer clubs keen to offer Ferdinand a lucrative deal to finish his playing career in the United States following his release from Old Trafford after 12 years’ service.

After sounding out Ferdinand’s agents, Villa turned their attention to Senderos instead, with the former Arsenal and Fulham defender available on a free transfer following his loan spell at Valencia.

Villa’s officials flew to Zurich this week to complete a two-year deal for Senderos before the 29-year-old centre-half jetted off with Switzerland for World Cup duty in Brazil, where Ferdinand will be working as a BBC pundit.